What’s the Parent’s Role in Child Therapy? A Guide to Supporting Your Child’s Healing Journey
When parents bring their child to therapy, one of the most common questions they ask is:
“What’s my role in all of this?”
It’s a great question—and an important one. While your child is the one sitting in the therapist’s chair, your involvement plays a big role in the success of the process. That doesn’t mean sitting in on every session or constantly asking your child to report back. It means working with your child’s therapist in ways that support your child’s growth, while still respecting their privacy and autonomy.
Let’s take a closer look at how parents fit into the child therapy process, what you can expect, and how to support your child in meaningful ways.
Do Parents Attend Child Therapy Sessions?
The short answer? Sometimes. It depends on your child’s age, needs, and the therapeutic approach being used.
For some children, therapy sometimes includes parents directly. This could look like:
Parent-child sessions where the therapist coaches you through interactions
Therapist-led play sessions with your child, followed by a parent debrief
For most children, therapy will involve a mix of individual sessions and some sort of family sessions. Teens, especially, may need more privacy to feel safe opening up—but that doesn’t mean parents are left out entirely.
Most child therapists include regular communication with caregivers, even when sessions are one-on-one with the child. This might look like brief updates at the end of a session or scheduled parent meetings.
Family sessions could consist of you as the parent joining a session with your child or even having parent-only sessions to get coaching and advice on how to handle situations at home. What this looks like varies from one family to the next, but caregivers should always have some involvement in treatment.
Why Trust and Privacy Matter in Child Therapy
One of the core values of child therapy is creating a safe, confidential space for kids to explore their feelings without fear of judgment, punishment, or interrogation.
That means your child’s therapist won’t give you a play-by-play of what your child said in each session, especially if your child is older. It’s not about keeping secrets from you. It’s about building trust with your child so they feel safe enough to open up, try new coping skills, and face hard emotions.
When kids feel like therapy is “just another report card for my behavior,” they’re less likely to engage. But when they know they’re in a space where they won’t be shamed, tattled on, or “talked about,” something shifts. They start to show up honestly, and that’s when real change happens.
That being said, the therapist will share certain themes or topics of discussion with you, as well as share about progress made in treatment. So, for example, the therapist might say something like, “Today we used puppets and the sandtray and we explored different feelings like sadness.”
And as you may expect, therapists are required to break confidentiality in certain cases, such as if your child shares something that indicates they’re at risk of harm or someone else is. Safety always comes first.
The key is balance: honoring your child’s privacy while keeping you informed, involved, and equipped to support them at home.
How I Work with Parents as a Child Therapist
In my Scottsdale, AZ practice, I view therapy as a team effort, and parents are a vital part of that team. Here’s how I typically involve parents in the therapy process:
1. Initial Intake
We’ll start with a parent intake session to gather background info, understand your concerns, and set shared goals for therapy. This helps me see the full picture of what’s happening at home and school.
2. Regular Check-Ins
I provide regular updates on how therapy is going—what skills we’re working on, any progress I’m seeing, and how things are unfolding in session (in a way that protects your child’s privacy). I’ll also ask how things are going on your end, so we can stay aligned.
3. Collaborative Strategy Building
I work closely with parents to translate what we’re doing in therapy into real-world tools you can use at home. Whether it’s emotion coaching, boundary setting, or sensory supports, I’ll give you practical strategies tailored to your child’s unique needs.
4. Family Sessions
Some sort of family sessions will likely be involved in your child’s treatment. That could look like sessions with two parents, one parent, a sibling, or a combination of people. This all depends on your child’s needs and treatment goals.
Tips for Supporting Your Child Between Child Therapy Sessions
You don’t need a degree in psychology to help your child thrive in therapy. Small, intentional actions at home can go a long way. Here are some ways you can support the process:
1. Stay Curious, Not Pushy
It’s totally natural to want to ask, “So what did you talk about today?” But some kids freeze up when they feel pressure to explain everything. Instead, try gentle, open-ended questions like, “How did it feel being at therapy today?” or simply, “I’m proud of you for going.”
2. Reinforce Coping Tools
If your child is learning breathing techniques, emotion words, or calming strategies in session, look for opportunities to practice them at home, especially during low-stress moments when your child is more receptive.
3. Model Emotional Openness
You don’t need to be perfect, but showing your own emotional awareness helps your child feel more comfortable with theirs. Try phrases like, “I’m feeling overwhelmed, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths,” or “That made me feel frustrated, but I’m working on staying calm.”
4. Celebrate the Small Wins
Progress in therapy isn’t always dramatic, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Celebrate small steps: fewer outbursts, more emotional language, or a moment of insight. These are signs of real growth.
5. Keep Communication Open with the Therapist
If something changes at home—good or bad—let your child’s therapist know. A move, a change in school, a shift in behavior patterns… these can all affect how therapy is going and what strategies are needed.
Final Thoughts: You’re a Key Part of the Process
Therapy isn’t just about what happens in the office—it’s about what happens in your child’s daily life. And that’s where you come in.
By staying involved, open-minded, and supportive, you’re not just helping your child in therapy—you’re strengthening your relationship, building emotional resilience, and laying the foundation for long-term mental health.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to show up with curiosity, compassion, and the willingness to learn alongside your child.
Looking for a Collaborative Child Therapist?
I specialize in working not just with children, but with their families. If you’re looking for a child therapist who supports your child and helps you feel empowered in the process, I’d love to talk.
Contact me here to learn more or schedule a consultation.
See Your Child Heal and Grow with Child Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ
At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we walk alongside you and your child to build emotional strength and resilience. Through compassionate, evidence-based support, we help your child thrive while giving you the tools to guide them along the way. Reach out today to explore how child therapy in Scottsdale, AZ can support your family’s journey forward. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Meet with Lianna, child therapist
Begin seeing your child heal!
Additional Services Offered at Fuzzy Socks Therapy
At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we offer many services for the whole family. In addition to child therapy to help your child heal with support, we also offer Discernment Counseling for couples navigating big decisions, neurodivergent therapy, couples therapy, social skills groups tailored for kids and teens, and coaching for parents of neurodivergent children. If you’re curious to learn more about child therapy, take a look at my blog!
